Hard-earned first away point of season for Melton Town

Melton Town picked up their first away point of the season with a hard-fought draw in an entertaining game at third-placed Burbage & Huncote on Saturday.

The hosts almost made the perfect start after just five minutes when Callum Morris controlled a bobbly ball before taking three steps and firing a low shot which went whiskers past the upright.

Melton's first chance came three minutes later when Dawid Rakosza headed a free kick down to Jack Hickey, whose first-time effort went wide.

Moments later, the ball was then played out wide to Cristian Bottini on the edge of the area, but his final shot flew across the goal and out of play.

Burbage should have taken the lead midway through the first half when a free kick was sent to the far side of the box for Tom Noon to head back across goal. Steve Pywell was only three yards out but somehow headed over the crossbar.

Harry Clarke then tested Burbage keeper Ben Hollins with an effort from distance which required a diving save.

The hosts continued to threaten and, following another Burbage free kick, the ball was only partially cleared to the unmarked Liam Watts, whose effort went inches past the post.

The final action of the first half saw Melton almost punished for a mistake.

A back pass to Harrison Eley-Gaunt was miscontrolled, leaving Pywell staring at an open goal from just four yards out, but he somehow blasted the ball over the bar.

The first chance of the second half fell to Burbage when Luke Campion weaved his way in and out of the Melton defence before finding Morris on the edge of the six yard box, but he pulled his shot wide.

Then in the 54th minute, Melton broke the deadlock.

A corner from Harry Clarke was sent in low and, with the Burbage defence unable to clear the ball, it fell to Rakosza, who smashed his effort into the net.

Bottini went close from distance with an effort which went just wide before Pearce-Smith won the ball on the halfway line and found Clarke.

Clarke drove forward before unleashing a 20-yard effort which shaved the outside of the upright.

However, Burbage levelled in the 62nd minute.

Watts went on a run down the right before picking out Pywell, who made no mistake from six yards out this time, firing past Eley-Gaunt.

A scramble in the Melton box saw the ball half-cleared to the edge of the area. Charlie Watts met it with a half-volley, but his effort flew just over the bar.

In injury time Melton almost snatched all three points as a Coby Checkland corner caught everyone out as it flew over the players and clipped the top of the crossbar.

Then came one final chance with virtually the last move of the match.

A long ball beat the offside trap and Elliot Pratt and Harry Clarke both went for the loose ball, but the pair tangled with each other, allowing Hollins to come out and clear.

In the end, Melton had to settle for a point, but it was a positive result against a side sitting third in the Leicestershire Senior League table.

It’s a cup game this Saturday at The Signright with Community Football Academy the visitors.